Chapter 7 : Planning (Part 3)

I was now in the back courtyard, stretching my body. Lynda sat on a throne-like chair, sipping apple juice from a glass, while Hilbert and the other captains stood beside her. Several soldiers were also present, watching in silence.

"So, are you ready?" Lynda asked, her gaze fixed on me.

"I am," I said, finishing my stretches and turning to her. "Though I must say, you look very beautiful."

She had changed into a green dress adorned with intricate leaf patterns, and the way it complemented her features was undeniable.

"It pleases me to hear such words," she said with a slight smirk. "However, I must tell you—no matter how much you flatter me, it won't extend your lifespan."

"I know," I replied. "I'm just stating the truth."

"Still, was it truly necessary for you to do your stretching exercises bare-bodied? It's quite distracting, you know," Lynda said, eyeing me with amusement.

"Hey, I don't want my hoodie drenched in sweat, okay?" I replied, rolling my shoulders.

"Whatever you say," she said with a smirk. "Though, I do wonder what our dear female captains have to say about this."

Silence. None of the female captains uttered a word.

"I guess they're too shy," Lynda chuckled. "Anyways, the preparations are complete."

At that moment, the head palace mage arrived, carrying a crystal orb placed delicately on a velvet cushion.

"Mr. Sitri, now step forward and touch it," the head mage instructed.

"Okay," I said, stepping forward. The crystal before me was a tool used to unlock one's magic potential—if they had any. Otherwise, the only other way to learn magic was through grimoires.

I placed my hand on the crystal.

Nothing happened.

"Keep touching it a little more," the head mage said, frowning slightly.

I did as he asked, keeping my palm firmly against the surface. Still, no reaction.

"Impossible?!" the head mage gasped, his eyes wide in shock. "Just what kind of creature are you?"

Lynda sat up slightly, intrigued. "What happened?"

"Normally, when someone with magic potential touches the crystal, it emits a faint glow. If they lack talent, it gives off an extremely dim light… but—" He paused, staring at me in disbelief.

"But what?" Lynda asked, her gaze narrowing.

"This guy… the crystal showed no reaction at all. That's impossible unless…" The head mage hesitated before finally saying, "Unless there isn't a single essence of mana in his very being."

This revelation shocked everyone present.

"But how is that even possible? Doesn't every being have mana flowing through their veins, whether dead or alive, living or non-living?" Rose said, her brows furrowed.

"Yeah, Rose is correct. Even the books state the same thing," Yeshi added, looking equally confused.

The head mage shook his head, still staring at me as if I were an anomaly. "I don't know how this could be… The only possible explanation is if Mr. Sitri came from a different world."

"Another world..." They all said in unison, their expressions filled with shock.

This was bad. Very bad.

"No, no! Don't you think that's a bit too much? Another world? That sounds utterly ridiculous!" I said, trying to dismiss the idea.

"Then explain why you don't have a single trace of mana," the head mage pressed, his eyes locked onto me.

"I don't know! You figure it out! You're the head mage, not me!" I shot back.

"That's enough. No need to create chaos over it. We will just give Sitri some magic items. This discussion ends here," Lynda declared before things could escalate further.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the head mage nodded. "Though I must say, it is a wise decision. Magic items only require a voice command to activate pre-made spells. Even someone like him, who has no mana, can use them."

"That's great. Now go do your duties or whatever else you can busy yourself with," Lynda said dismissively.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the head mage bowed and left.

"Wow, that was something," I heard Hilbert say to the captains, who nodded in agreement.

I walked toward Lynda and asked, "Will it really be okay for me to get magic items?"

While I certainly wanted them, I didn't want to act too eager. There was no way she was giving them to me just so I could protect myself—there had to be something else behind this.

"I can certainly use them against you, you know."

"That's what I want," Lynda said.

"What?" I frowned.

"For someone claiming to know everything about me, you sure don't know much," she said with a smirk.

I never said that. It was you who did, and I just played along. Besides, there wasn't much about you in the character page on the game's official website.

"I'm not omniscient. I can't tell what sort of thoughts are running through your beautiful mind, you know," I said.

"Then let me enlighten you." Lynda's smirk widened. "There are two reasons. Number one, which you already know, is that I don't want you to be killed by the rebels too easily. And number two—when I finally kill you, I want you to put up a fight."

She threw the glass she was holding to the ground, the juice splashing across the marble floor. Then she stood up, stepping forward without a care, crushing the shards beneath her heels. A cold gust of air passed through me as she exhaled, her ice magic chilling the space between us.

Before I could react, she grasped my face with both hands, her fingers cold against my skin.

"Resistance," she whispered, her voice breathy and low. "I want you to resist my will. My power. I want to feel you struggle as I overpower your body, your spirit, your mind. My hands pinning you down."

Her eyes gleamed with something unhinged—something dangerously intoxicating. Her breath grew heavy as she leaned in closer.

"I want you to resist my advances as my hands roam across your body. Touching. Feeling. Tearing. Ripping you apart. Feeling the warmth of your blood and flesh."

In an instant, she knocked me down, pinning me to the ground effortlessly.

"Like this."

Then, just as quickly, she released me, stepping back as if nothing had happened. Her expression smoothed over, as if the last few moments had been nothing more than casual conversation.

"By the way, do you know how to dance?" she asked.

"I know a few steps," I said, getting up and dusting myself off. "But that was a few years ago, so I'm a little rusty."

"No worries," Lynda said with a smirk. "I'll personally teach you. Just meet me in my room, okay?"

And with that, she turned and left without waiting for a response.

Hilbert walked up to me, arms crossed. "You okay, man?"

"Do I really look okay to you?" I muttered. "That woman has some serious mental problems."

Hilbert chuckled, giving me a light pat on the back. "It's not that bad. Besides, you're the only one who can talk to the queen the way you do. Anyone else would have their heart ripped out and served to their family for dinner."

I shot him a look. "That's supposed to be comforting?"

"I'm just saying," he shrugged. "Her Majesty really likes you. That makes you a lucky guy."

"Well, if the situation were different, maybe..." I sighed, shaking my head.

With nothing else to do, I made my way to her chambers to get ready. But not before reclaiming my hoodie and gun from one of the maids standing among the soldiers.